Best spot

Oelrichs: Fairburn Agate & Jasper Rockhounding in Fall River County, South Dakota

Updated June 2026

The grassland south and east of Oelrichs is a long-recognized Fairburn agate area, also producing jasper, cone-in-cone calcite, and agatized wood. It sits in the same southwestern South Dakota agate belt as Fairburn and Ardmore, with badlands erosion continually exposing fresh material at the surface. Reported finds include fairburn agate, jasper, calcite, agatized wood. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Oelrichs photos

Public image records connected to this spot or its reported material.

1 photo

A Fairburn agate collected in the national grasslands east of the Black Hills, banded in orange, lavender, and white inside a weathered rind

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Fall River County
State: South Dakota
Coordinates: 43.12561, -103.16692

Geology at Oelrichs

This spot sits on Pierre Shale, mapped as shale and bentonite that formed roughly 100 to 66 million years ago. Sedimentary beds like these are the typical host for petrified and silicified wood, which weathers out as durable float on slopes and in washes.

Mapped unit: Pierre Shale
Age: 100–66 Ma (Late Cretaceous)
Rock types: shale and bentonite
Elevation: 3,360 ft

Geologic mapping via Macrostrat and the underlying state geological survey maps (CC BY 4.0). Bedrock at the surface can vary within a mapped unit.

Best time to visit Oelrichs

Best months: March to November. Typical highs run 89°F in midsummer and 36°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 13°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, OELRICHS station (6 mi away).

Land & collecting status

Generally open to casual rockhounding

Most public-tagged spots sit on BLM, U.S. Forest Service, or other federal land where reasonable hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed. Confirm posted rules and active mining claims before you dig.

Public-land rules vary by agency, season, and field office. The RockHoundR app pulls live BLM, USFS, NPS, and tribal overlays so you can see exactly which agency manages the ground at this spot.

Sources & verification

Spot details combine the public RockHoundR location dataset, normalized mineral labels, agency land-status checks in the app, and community submissions. Coordinates are approximate until verified in the field.

Sources: RockHoundR public spot dataset, app land overlays, and local agency review before each trip.

Found at Oelrichs

Each chip opens all spots that produce that material; the encyclopedia link opens the full ID and field guide.

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Oelrichs.

Across the state line from Oelrichs

Oelrichs is close enough to the South Dakota border that the next-closest rockhounding spots are in a neighboring state. Worth knowing if you are already on the road.

Oelrichs FAQ

Where is Oelrichs?+

Oelrichs is in Fall River County, South Dakota, at 43.12561, -103.16692.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Oelrichs?+

Oelrichs is reported to produce Fairburn Agate, Jasper, Calcite, Agatized Wood.

Is collecting allowed at Oelrichs?+

Generally open to casual rockhounding. Most public-tagged spots sit on BLM, U.S. Forest Service, or other federal land where reasonable hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed. Confirm posted rules and active mining claims before you dig. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.

What tools should I bring to Oelrichs?+

A rock hammer, sturdy gloves, and a padded bag cover petrified wood hunting. Most pieces are surface float, so walking slopes and washes beats digging.

When is the best time to visit Oelrichs?+

The most comfortable months at Oelrichs are March to November.

How do I get to Oelrichs?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 43.12561, -103.16692 in Google Maps. Some spots are remote, so check road conditions before driving out.

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